REDEMPTION

19. I THINK I KNOW.

It had been days since she last woke up. Today was the third day and Audrey wasn’t still up. Shawn racked his brain trying to figure out what was going on but he couldn’t come up with anything. The only one who’d have an answer was Ralph and he, was of no use at the moment. And what he had said made no sense. Ralph’s condition had somehow improved. He had not resurfaced after that day again. Shawn was sure that something had happened but no one knew what. 

After the whole fiasco, Shawn had taken Ralph to meet their parents the following day. He had explained what happened to them while they were in the human realm. They were glad they were all safe but their mother could not contain the shock hence she collapsed. When they tried asking Ralph how he escaped, he simply looked at them and smiled. Shawn later told them that his memory had been erased. Their father stared at Shawn like he had explained how stars are formed. He looked around the living room and found someone missing. He glanced at his watch. It was noon and Audrey had not come down yet. 

Infuriated by this, their father, Claus sent someone to fetch his daughter. Not long after, an ear piercing scream was heard. The three men bolted towards the sound. When they arrived, they found the maid who was sent to fetch Audrey screaming her brains out. The door to Audrey’s room was ajar. They stood there for a while before escaping from their trance. They tried asking her what was wrong and she only pointed at the door. Tears streamed down her now pale face. Her whole body shook uncontrollably while her heart palpitated in her chest. Her weak feet had given into the floor. Her hands clutched her chest as she heaved. Shawn ordered someone to take her away. 

Shawn rose from comforting the maid and headed toward Audrey’s room. His father who was supposed to in the frontline of this unforeseen battle, stood behind him. His straight face covered the fear that had grasped his heart and drained the color out of his face. Even though Ralph had forgotten who he was, his body had not. He stood beside Shawn and when they both gave the signal, they open the door to Audrey’s room and infiltrated it in an instant. 

Her room was clear. No one was inside the room but her. Her bedroom windows were locked and so were the curtains. Shawn being uncomfortable, took the initiative to open the curtains himself. When light had been shed into the room, they noticed something odd. Audrey. Her hair which was a rich brown color was now slowly turning white. Her tan skin had grown pale as well. Her lips were dyed in a pale blue color. She was dead. 

Ralph was about to touch her when Claus jumped into the room yelling “Stop!”. The two boys jumped back, shocked at his outburst. Claus did not correct his posture and ordered them to stay away from her. Shawn had never seen such emotions portrayed by his father. Was something wrong? And why did he demand they stay away from Audrey? She could be dead for all they knew. Shawn had raised his thoughts unknowingly. 

Claus shot hit a glare. Walked up to him and asked him to repeat what he had said straight to his face. As Shawn was about to, a voice repeated what Shawn had asked. Claus’ anger had already blinded him and he slapped whoever it was without a care in this world of whom it might have been. Only when Shawn and Ralph ran to assist whoever it was, did he realize his mistake. It was his wife, Raphtalia. Raphtalia held her face, stood her ground and said it once more. Her tears betrayed her confidence but she did not mind. 

Looking straight into the man she had married all this years, she demanded an answer. Yet, he remained silent. His face distorted as thoughts of an unknown nature raced through his mind. He was not going to tell them what he knew. No. He did not want to tell them anything. They did not deserve to know. It was not the right time yet. When he was done convincing himself, he looked at his family ready to order them out of his presence but his wife was way ahead of him. 

“Guards, Lord Claus is tired. Escorts him to his chambers.” Raphtalia said, her voice was calm. The guards outside came in and took away Claus who kept yelling at the top of his voice to stay away from Audrey. Before they went far, she added, “Oh, and lock him inside to ensure that he gets enough rest.” 

“Ma’am.” The guards responded in unison. 

Raphtalia, even though a being of light magic had a unique ability. The ability to tell her desires and orders to anyone, and no one could deny her. Her unique ability could kill or save, bound or free a soul of she wanted to. However, it came with its own demerits. If her emotions fluctuated and she wished someone was dead, that person would drop dead, literally. So she never spoke unless she needed to. And if she did, she ensured that her emotions were intact. Calm and collected. 

After the guards had dragged Claus away from Audrey’s room, she approached her daughter. Her hearts could not take looking at her daughter in this state. She always felt something strange from her. She was sure Audrey was not her daughter, because she did not remember giving birth to her but everyone in the castle was convinced that she Was her daughter. Yet, after raising her, she did consider her her own. 

When she got close enough to touch her forehead, she felt something squeeze the life out of her chest and she backed away. She must have been delusional from losing consciousness earlier. She tried again, this time she felt someone strangling her. Shawn reached out and tapped her shoulder, Raphtalia let out a scream involuntary. She saw he was worried. 

“Mmm” 

“We have been calling you but you did answer. Mum, is something wrong? Why is Audrey not waking up? Why is dad so mad? Why did he look like he was going to lock her up again like he did before? What does he know that we don’t? What the hell is going on?” Shawn finally let out what he had been holding back. 

Raphtalia’s heart broke when he saw his own son breaking before her. Her children had been to the human realm for only fourteen years and so much had happened that she did not know what to do anymore. She just found out Ralph had been missing for the past twelve. Shawn had been burdened with this for so long. And, Audrey, her little girl had died but she was here? 

“Are the heavens taking her away from me?” 

“I-I t-think I know…”